Reduced slack coupler

ABSTRACT

A modified type &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;E&#39;&#39;&#39;&#39; coupler having a knuckle with a horizontal contour extending forwardly and angularly for reducing slack when coupled with either an &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;E&#39;&#39;&#39;&#39; or &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;F&#39;&#39;&#39;&#39; coupler, and a vertical contour tapering and curving for allowing vertical angling in area contact condition.

Unite States Patent 1191 1111 3,722,708

Ion et al. 1 Mar. 27, 1973 [541 REDUCED SLACK COUPLER [56] References Cited [75] Inventors: Forrest Fothergill Ion, Itasca; UNITED STATES PATENTS Walt" Richard pflaninv Buckles, 407,821 7/1889 Eastwick, Jr. ..213 151 both of Russell George Altherr, 1,078,203 11 1913 Kaakau ..213 151 Munster, Ind. 2,361,850 10/1944 Kinne ....213/152 2,562,504 7/1951 Metzger ..213/151 [73] Ass1gnee: Amsted Industries Incorporated,

Chicago Primary ExaminerDrayton E. Hoffman [22] Filed: Dec. 8, 1971 Atto'rneyWalter L. Schlegel, Jr. et a1.

1 1 p N011 205,917 57 ABSTRACT A modified type E" coupler having a knuckle with a [52] US. Cl. ..213/151, 213/109, 213/152 horizontal contour extending forwardly and angularly [51] Int. Cl. ..B6lg 1/06, 861g 3/04 f r r ducing slack when coupled with either an E or [58] Field of Search ..213/109, 151, 152 p d a rti al Contour tapering and curving for allowing vertical angling in area contact condition.

6 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures z cou rnva PATENIEnmRzmu 3,722,708

CQU LL CENT LINE REDUCED SLACK COUPLER In the coupler field there is continuous effort expended in an attempt to reduce slack between two mated couplers to a minimum amount and still retain coupler movability within the range specified by the Association of American Railroads (A.A.R.).

Reducing slack to a minimum results in improved handling of long trains, reduction of impact force, and decrease in wear rate. Various techniques have been used in an attempt to achieve this goal. For example, parts have been machined subsequent to casting; adjusting wedges have been used; and preloaded components have been tried. These methods are expensive and impractical.

At first glance it would appear that the desired slack reduction could be achieved by simple adding metal to the face of the knuckle. However, this would prevent a coupler from meeting the A.A.R. requirements for vertical and horizontal angling. Due to the differences in construction of the type E and F" couplers, the type E coupler requires more contour slack to permit coupler movement.

We have developed a modified type E coupler which may be mated interchangeably with a standard type F coupler, a standard type B coupler, or another modified type B coupler, and which will reduce slack in each case. In particular, when our modified type E" coupler is mated with a type F coupler, the slack is reduced to the normal slack obtained when two type F" couplers are mated. This reduction is considered optimum. When our modified type I-E" coupler is mated with a standard type coupler, slack is reduced by approximately 42 percent of this optimum.

The modification involves extending the coupler knuckle in its horizontal contour so that when in buff with the head of a mated coupler it extends beyond the standard knuckle. To compensate for this extension, a unique multiple taper has been incorporated in the vertical contour of the knuckle.

It is an object of this invention to provide a modified type B coupler which may be mated interchangeably with a type F" coupler, a standard type E" coupler, or another modified type E coupler.

It is another object of this invention to provide a modified type E" coupler which will reduce slack when mated with another coupler.

It is yet another object of this invention to provide a modified type E coupler which retains movability within ranges specified by the A.A.R.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a modified type E" coupler having a knuckle with a horizontal contour extending angularly beyond that of the standard type E" coupler and a vertical contour including a multiple taper to provide area contact.

These and other objects of this invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon perusal of the description herein along with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a top elevational view of the modified type 15" couplers showing their relationship when mated;

FIG. 2 is a detailed view of the modified type E" knuckle shown in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the modified type 15" knuckle shown in FIG. 2.

Our modified type 13" coupler 10 includes the standard coupler head 12 to which coupler knuckle 14 is pivotally connected. As shown in FIG. 1, coupler knuckle I4 is in buff with the coupler head of another coupler, to which it is mated. This mating is along a coupling center line which extends along or parallel to the longitudinal axis of the train when it is on a straight section of track.

As best shown in FIG. 2, the front face 16 of the standard type E" coupler has been extended forwardly in our modified type E" coupler and has been angularly contoured in the horizontal direction to provide maximum slack reduction. The forward extension in our modified type E" coupler is determined by this angular horizontal contour. We have found the optimum extension to be 5/32 inch.

The modified front face 16 of our coupler knuckle 14 along its horizontal contour extends from the heel l8 forwardly and inwardly toward the coupling center line C.L. angularly over a first portion 20 thereof. We have found that satisfactory slack reduction may be obtained if this angle A is in the range of 77 17 to 47' with the coupling center line, the optimum angle being 79 35' The first portion 20 merges with a second portion 22 of the front face 16, which we have found gives satisfactory slack reduction when it extends forwardly and inwardly towards the coupling center line at an angle B in the range of 87 47 to 88 47 with the coupling center line. This is very close to being perpendicular to the coupling center line; yet we have found a significant improvement in slack reduction characteristics resulting from its adoption.

The second portion 22 merges with a third portion 24 of the front face 16, third portion 24 extending rearwardly toward the coupling center line to merge with the nose 26 of knuckle 14.

It is this unique angular relationship of the various portions of the knuckle front face which determines the 5/32 inch extension of the knuckle forwardly in the direction parallel to the coupling center line.

Two knuckles, either or both of which are modified by forwardly extending 5/32 inch, would result in a reduction of the vertical angling maneuverability of mated couplers. Vertical angling characteristics are improved by the tapers shown in FIG. 3. Each face of knuckle l4 tapers away from an associated coupler at its end sections. The front face of knuckle l4 tapers from its central section 28 inwardly at an angle of 4 43' over a first portion 30 thereof. This tapered first portion 30 merges with a pronounced curved taper having a large radius of curvature over a second portion 32 thereof. Curved section portion 32, in turn, merges with a curved taper having a small radius of curvature over a third portion 34 thereof. Curved third portion 34 then merges with end surface 36 of knuckle 14.

The pulling face of knuckle l4 tapers away from its central section 38 at an angle of 4 43' along a first portion 40 thereof. This tapered first portion 40 merges with a second and larger taper along the second portion 42 thereof. This larger taper 42 merges with a curved taper over a third portion 43 thereof, which in turn merges with end surface 36.

The 4 43' taper along the first portions 30 and 40 of the end sections of knuckle 14 in vertical contour provides the nominal vertical movability established as standard by the A.A.R. The relatively large and small curved portions 32 and 34 at the ends of the front face of knuckle 14 allow smooth area contact with the opposite coupler head. This results in three advantages; first, there is bearing area contact rather than line contact, resulting in areduction of stress concentration; second, the force moment is reduced as the bearing area is closer to the center of the knuckle than would be the case with line contact, resulting in lower stresses on the knuckle; and third, due to'the large radius of curvature 32, less damage results from miscoupling or telescoping.

We have developed a modified type E coupler which may be mated interchangeably with other couplers in use throughout the railroad industry. Our coupler may be produced economically and does not require machining. Its use results in slack reduction, thereby reducing wear and tear throughout the train, damage to cargo, and discomfort to passengers.

Although we have described and shown a preferred embodiment of our invention herein it should be understood that our invention is to be limited only by the scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is:

1. In a coupler arrangement adapted for coupling engagement through a coupling center line; the combination of opposing couplers each having a coupler head and knuckle engageable in draft and buff; each of said knuckles defining a front face engageable in buff with said opposite coupler head, and a pulling face engageable in draft with said opposite knuckle; each of said front faces having a horizontal contour angling toward said opposite coupler head and the coupling center line at an angle in the range of 77 17 to 80 47' with the coupling center line over a first portion thereof, angling toward said opposite coupler head and the coupling center line at an angle in the range of 87 47' to 88 47' with the coupling center line over a second portion thereof, and angling away from said opposite coupler head toward the coupling center line over a third portion thereof.

2. In a coupler arrangement according to claim 1, said horizontal contour angling toward said opposite coupler head and the coupling center line at an angle of I approximately 79 35' with the coupling center line over said first portion thereof.

3. In a coupler arrangement according to claim 1, each of said knuckles having tapered ends; each of said front faces having a vertical contour at each end angling away from said opposite coupler head at an angle of approximately 4 43' with the vertical over a first portion thereof, curving away from said opposite coupler head with a relatively large radius of curvature over a second portion thereof, and curving away from said opposite coupler head with a relatively small radius of curvature over a third'portion thereof.

4. In a coupler arrangement according to claim 3, each of said pulling faces having a vertical contour at each end angling away from said opposite knuckle at an angle of approximately 4 43 with the vertical over a first portion thereof, angling away from said opposite knuckle at an angle larger than approximately 4 43' with the vertical over a second portion thereof, and

curving away from said opposite knuckle over a third portion thereof.

5. In a coupler arrangement adapted for coupling engagement through a coupling center line, the improvement comprising a modified type E knuckle defining front and rear faces adapted for coupling engagement respectively in buff and draft, said front face having a horizontal contour angling forwardly toward the coupling center line at an angle therewith in the range of 77 17 to 80 47 over a first portion thereof, angling forwardly toward the coupling center line at an angle therewith in the range of 87 47' to 88 47' over a second portion thereof, and angling rearwardly toward the coupling center line over a third portion thereof.

6. In a coupler arrangement according to claim 5, said front face extending forwardly approximately 5/32 inch beyond the front face of a standard type E" knuckle. 

1. In a coupler arrangement adapted for coupling engagement through a coupling center line; the combination of opposing couplers each having a coupler head and knuckle engageable in draft and buff; each of said knuckles defining a front face engageable in buff with said opposite coupler head, and a pulling face engageable in draft with said opposite knuckle; each of said front faces having a horizontal contour angling toward said opposite coupler head and the coupling center line at an angle in the range of 77* 17'' to 80* 47'' with the coupling center line over a first portion thereof, angling toward said opposite coupler head and the coupling center line at an angle in the range of 87* 47'' to 88* 47'' with the coupling center line over a second portion thereof, and angling away from said opposite coupler head toward the coupling center line over a third portion thereof.
 2. In a coupler arrangement according to claim 1, said horizontal contour angling toward said opposite coupler head and the coupling center line at an angle of approximately 79* 35'' with the coupling center line over said first portion thereof.
 3. In a coupler arrangement according to claim 1, each of said knuckles having tapered ends; each of said front faces having a vertical contour at each end angling away from said opposite coupler head at an angle of approximately 4* 43'' with the vertical over a first portion thereof, curving away from said opposite coupler head with a relatively large radius of curvature over a second portion thereof, and curving away from said opposite coupler head with a relatively small radius of curvature over a third portion thereof.
 4. In a coupler arrangement according to claim 3, each of said pulling faces having a vertical contour at each end angling away from said opposite knuckle at an angle of approximately 4* 43'' with the vertical over a first portion thereof, angling away from said opposite knuckle at an angle larger than approximately 4* 43'' with the vertical over a second portion thereof, and curving away from said opposite knuckle over a third portion thereof.
 5. In a coupler arrangement adapted for coupling engagement through a coupling center line, the improvement comprising a modified type ''''E'''' knuckle defining front and rear faces adapted for coupling engagement respectively in buff and draft, said front face having a horizontal contour angling forwardly toward the coupling center line at an angle therewith in the range of 77* 17'' to 80* 47'' over a first portion thereof, angling forwardly toward the coupling center line at an angle therewith in the range of 87* 47'' to 88* 47'' over a second portion thereof, and angling rearwardly toward the coupling centEr line over a third portion thereof.
 6. In a coupler arrangement according to claim 5, said front face extending forwardly approximately 5/32 inch beyond the front face of a standard type ''''E'''' knuckle. 